The National Audubon Society (Audubon), the BirdLife Partner in the US, and BirdLife International (BirdLife) are developing a BirdLife Partnership Climate Change Action Plan for the Americas, informed by an assessment of climate change vulnerability of species and Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) across the Americas. The Climate Change Action Plan, supported by funding from the MacArthur Foundation, will serve as a call to action to unite the BirdLife network of hemispheric partners for climate solutions, and will identify and prioritize potential climate change adaptation and mitigation actions for birds and biodiversity in 12 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean – Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, Panama, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil. The objective of this consultancy is to: Lead the development of a clear and compelling climate change action plan for the Americas and national level plans that are underpinned by sound science, a comprehensive assessment of the climate context, and opportunities to advance the partnership’s work.
B. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES
- Lead, facilitate and direct the planning process for BirdLife Partners, climate change experts and other pertinent participants to complete a regional action plan and individual action plans in 12 countries. And, lead the writing of the plan.
- Coordinate with the BirdLife and Audubon Science team, experts and a core planning team (consisting of a small group of BirdLife partners) as part of the local and regional planning processes’.
- Work directly with partners and experts to carry out the analysis and planning and provide the framework for the local plans, workshops and processes being carried out locally and regionally, providing the feedback and input as needed and provide quality control for the development of the national plans.
- Develop and lead one regional workshop and support smaller core team meetings needed to advance the planning and facilitate adequate communication in the region needed to complete the planning process.
- Carryout sufficient communication and coordination within the team of BirdLife Secretariat, Audubon and other BirdLife partner staff to support the efficient development of the plans.
- Provide information as needed to support progress reports to the MacArthur Foundation and the partnership.
C. PRODUCTS
- A compelling, concise regional climate change plan that identifies and prioritizes climate change adaptation and mitigation actions for birds and biodiversity in 12 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Partners who are ready to implement it.
- Develop a framework and outline for the regional and national action plans that helps guide the analysis, planning and writing of the strategy.
- High quality input for the plan based on an analysis that provides a review of threats, trends, mitigation and adaptation potential in each country and regionally and an assessment of the state of partner readiness on climate adaptation, and key niches and opportunities.
- One regional workshop and a smaller number of core team meetings (in person and call-ins) for advancing development of the plan to incorporating expert input and quality control.
- An efficient and well communicated planning process for the regional partners.
D. DURATION OF CONTRACT
ASAP to August 31, 2016.
E. RELATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The contractor will report to the Audubon staff person managing the contract and will be responsible for leading and maintaining efficient and consistent communication in the development of the plan with the core team (Five to seven person team initially comprised of BirdLife, Audubon, Guyra Paraguay and Asociación Armonia staff.), partners, science and other technical staff, and contractors. Specifically, the contractor will:
- Coordinate closely and communicate directly with the Audubon and BirdLife leads on the project and with the core team, partner staff working on the project, and other experts and staff within BirdLife and Audubon as needed.
- Coordinate closely with in-country partners, who will lead the national level planning processes and regional and local experts in order provide the quality input needed for developing the local plans.
- Communicate and actively reach out to other experts and stakeholders that can provide further input into the development of the plan.
F. PAYMENT METHOD
Payments will be made based on the successful completion of each product to the satisfaction of Audubon and payment schedule will be negotiated at time of contract signing.
G. CONSULTANT QUALIFICATIONS
- Expertise and knowledge of climate change projects, policy and conservation issues in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Ability to coordinate high quality planning processes and facilitate the gathering and analysis of information and input from various sources.
- Proven capacity to synthesize information and write concisely and clearly.
- Entrepreneurial and creative, with innovative ideas on how to develop climate change plans and initiatives.
- Highly organized and efficient individual that can ensure timely solid, high quality results.
- Fluency in Spanish and English with ability to communicate in Portuguese a plus.
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Interested parties should send a letter that contains details on how they would carry out the work, a proposed bid and a resume to iapconsultancy@audubon.org on or before October 26, 2015.
